Insight Retail Software began Scan Data Services in early 2016 and the results have been tremendous.

We are proud to have served our customers for over 3 YEARS submitting scan data for Altria and RJ Reynolds. Insight Retail Software has more experience in the Tobacco Scan Data space than any other company in the industry.

More to come on this backOffice™ Customer but as the Milk House adds their 4th store they also add creativity to the ever changing market of flavored tobacco products. Where there’s a will…… there’s Derek Medved.

DULUTH, MN– Another business in Duluth has found a workaround when it comes to the city’s restrictions on the sale of flavored tobacco products.

The Korner Store also known as the Milk House in Gary New Duluth is following the lead of the Holiday Station store on Central Ave. in creating a separate room within the store to sell flavored tobacco products.

This comes after the Duluth City Council approved a rule over a year ago, banning the sale of the products from convenient stores, allowing them to only be purchased in 18-years or older smoke shops.

Owner, Derek Medved says the business has lost a lot of income due to the ban.

“You know I believe that Zach Filipovich, his comments are very well stated. But, I believe that you have the right when you’re eighteen years old to determine what is good or bad for you. And you know gas stations and you know my establishments and everybody across town we have never you know sold to minors and we never plan to. And we will never ever promote it to minors, but you know I believe that it’s a right,” says Medved.

Many councilors voted in favor of the ordinance hoping it would keep these products out of the hands of teens. Others voted against it, saying it unfairly shifted business.

Whether you are a retailer or a consumer, it’s important to know the facts about creditcardskimmers. As described by @NACSonline, skimming is the method by which [criminals] obtain customer card data from the magnetic strip to create a counterfeit card to use either online or in stores. With EMV compliance just 18 months away, “the window of opportunity for thieves to get this data is closing.”

Nacsonline article featuring contributors Paige Anderson and Linda Toth, it points out that retailers have many options to protect their business from skimming; however, the one action every retailer can take is changing out the universal locks on their fuel dispensers.

“Making sure those locks are unique is one basic security requirement…it doesn’t cost much and can be done easily,” said Anderson.

If you are reading this and don’t own a convenience store you may think this doesn’t apply to you. True, skimming may not effect your business but if your use a credit card to purchase fuel, it could have a very negative effect on your bank account. As consumers we all need to be aware of these criminals and know what to look for. Seriously, we are all very busy and who has extra hours of time to fight credit card breaches? NOBODY! Below we have included a link from @Nacs TV that is very informative and shows you exactly what to look for before handing your card over to a gas pump!

Let backOffice Software™ help with adding these new products to your store!

Oklahoma Retailers to Stock Wine and Stronger Beer

State grocery and convenience stores will benefit from modernized alcohol laws starting next week.

September 26, 2018

TULSA, Okla. – On October 1, Oklahoma finally will allow wine and full-strength beer to be sold from convenience stores and supermarkets, the Tulsa World reports. Nearly 60 years after Oklahoma was the final state to overturn Prohibition, high-point beer will be available at retailers outside liquor stores.

The new law specifies that those stores will be able to stock wine of up to 15% alcohol by volume and beer of up to 8.99%. Stores will be able to sell the alcohol seven days a week between 6:00 am and 2:00 am.

This change has been a long time coming to Oklahoma. Two years ago, more than 65% of voters approved the question that allowed for stronger beer sales at convenience stores, while also allowing liquor stores to sell cold beer and a small number of nonalcoholic items, such as corkscrews, mixers and ice. Liquor stores also received permission for expanded hours.

“We were losing out because we were in a very restrictive environment, and by modernizing our alcohol laws, you’re seeing a lot of economic growth,” said state Sen. Stephanie Bice, who sponsored the bills with Rep. Glen Mulready (R).

Currently, only two other states—Minnesota and Utah—have laws restricting the sale of beer and wine from convenience stores and supermarkets. Kansas recently approved a similar law to Oklahoma’s, which will go into effect next April, and Colorado will remove the low-beer restriction come January 2019.

Help Control Cigarette Litter at Your Store

August 14, 2018

​ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Litter is one of the top reasons consumers oppose having a convenience store or gas station in their communities. According to Keep America Beautiful (KAB), every litter stand reduces the littering rate for cigarette butts by 9%. Many smokers say they would properly dispose of their butts if suitable receptacles were available.

As part of a new joint initiative of KAB and Philip Morris USA, for a limited time U.S. convenience stores can request free litter stands to collect cigarette butts. Litter stands will be delivered to retailers with all materials, hardware and guidance needed for installation. Retailers are asked to maintain litter stands by servicing them regularly.

U.S. convenience stores can request one or more free litter stands until September 15. Interested retailers should email litterstands@kab.org with the following information:

Wine Sales Projected Growth at 6% Annually

Millennials and Gen Xers have pushed out baby boomers as the

largest consumer group in the wine market.

August 10, 2018

​NEW YORK – Wine sales have been growing, with total U.S. wine sales topping $32 billion in 2017, and a healthy sales projection of more than 6% annually through 2022 to hit $43 billion, Marketing Daily reports. Millennials and Gen Xers are driving this upward trend as their share of wine consumption soared by 8%, making them the largest consumer group in the wine market, according to L.E.K. Consulting.

Off-premises consumption of wine has risen, accounting for more than 80% of overall wine drinking—a much higher rate than for distilled spirits and beer, L.E.K. Consulting reports. Sales of fancy wine—the fine and premium wines—grew around 8% annually since 2012 and should reach $25 billion by 2022.

Direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales also are increasing, with shipments to customers from wineries closing in on $3.1 billion last year. The DTC market is anticipated to experience around 11% growth annually to hit $5.2 billion by 2022. Smaller wineries are pushing the DTC trend, which also has created packaging innovations such as canned, single-serve and boxed wine.

L.E.K.’s research shows that wine sales continued to grow even during the 2007–2008 recession, but new immigration policies could affect wine production by contributing to the industry’s labor shortage. Also, the industry continues to consolidate, with about a dozen suppliers in control of approximately 80% of the U.S. wine market by volume last year.

Gen Z Influences Food and Drink Trends

Young consumers are shaping the way Americans eat.

July 23, 2018

​CHICAGO – Millennials have had their time in the spotlight; now, companies are looking to the next generation to see how they will impact the future of the food and drink industry. Dubbing cohorts of Generation Z who are aged 11 to 22 as the iGeneration, Mintel says this demographic has the potential to reset expectations for health and wellness, increase the reach of international cuisine and heighten creativity in the kitchen.

Mintel suggests that America’s youngest consumers are increasingly growing health-conscious, with one quarter (25%) of teens aged 15-17 saying they worry about staying healthy, with another 49% agreeing that they think drinking soda is unhealthy.

“Generation Z has come of age at a time when health and wellness is a major consideration. Many younger members of Generation Z follow their parents’ healthy ways and it seems health-consciousness only gets stronger as they approach adulthood.

However, health is multi-faceted for this group, suggesting that better-for-you formulations, such as craveable fruits and vegetables, can be expanded to give this generation options that fit with their ever-changing diet priorities,” said Dana Macke, associate director, lifestyles and leisure reports, at Mintel.

Today’s younger generations are the most diverse in U.S. history and in addition to their varied racial and ethnic backgrounds, parents are raising their children to have broader palates.

Gen Z seems to be cultivating an appreciation for international cuisine from a young age as 36% of U.S. parents of children under age 18 agree that their kids enjoy eating international foods.
Interest in international cuisine goes well beyond the more commonplace varieties such as Italian, Mexican and Chinese, as Gen Z consumers are driving consumption of more emerging international food and drink. Adult Gen Z consumers are also much more likely than older generations to find culinary inspiration from social media: 62% of young adults aged 18-22 say they cook international cuisines at home from social media, compared to 46% of Millennials (aged 23-40) and 23% of Generation X consumers (aged 41-52) who cook at home.

“Generation Z is America’s most diverse generation yet. With exposure to international foods starting at an early age, whether in restaurants or at home, Generation Z is more likely to be open to the latest international food trend or innovative fusion creation. These adventurous habits are creating opportunities across categories, presenting potential for products such as tikka masala meal kits or Chinese Peking duck-flavored potato chips,” said Jenny Zegler, Associate Director, Mintel Food & Drink.

Read more about Gen Z attitudes toward food in the July NACS Magazine feature, “Better for You.”